When Should You Have Your Driveway Paved?

When it comes to having a driveway paved, choosing the right time to do so can be just as important as choosing the right Maryland paving contractor. Having your driveway paved can work wonders for your home. Many get a new driveway to Increase its aesthetic and curb appeal as well as its overall lifespan. It’s important to understand the many factors that affect asphalt and concrete installation to guarantee the quality of your driveway.

A new paving job increases a home or businesses aesthetic and curb appeal, as well as its overall lifespan. It’s important to understand the many factors that affect asphalt and concrete installation to guarantee the quality of your driveway.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for paving asphalt is roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit. For most areas of the country, this makes late spring and early summer the best time to have your driveway paved. Hot mix asphalt needs to be between 175 and 275 degrees to compact and set correctly. With warmer temperatures, this is easier to maintain. Whereas areas with cooler temperatures, compression becomes more difficult and shortens the time span for installation.

Similar to asphalt, concrete driveway paving should occur in more mild temperatures. In colder weather (below 32 degrees) you risk the water affecting the materials used in your concrete mixture. The materials could freeze, expand, and cause unsightly and damaging cracks in your driveway. With warmer temperatures (above 90 degrees), you risk the top layer of the concrete drying before the lower layers. In the long run, this can cause potentially costly damage to your foundation.

Humidity

Humidity can have a significant impact on both asphalt and concrete paving. The higher the air humidity, the less moisture the air can absorb. The newly laid asphalt or concrete will take longer to dry in humid weather. Hot, humid weather exposes new asphalt to more potential problems during the setting process. Generally speaking, you will want to have any paving work done in less than 90% humidity.

Sunlight

Having adequate sunlight will also affect the quality of your asphalt or concrete driveway. Putting it simply, the more sunlight, the better. Sunlight creates and renews heat, which ultimately leads to quicker cure and dry times. Call your local paving company and schedule for the summer; you’ll both be happy.

Windspeed

Wind speed greatly affects the drying and curing of your newly laid asphalt or concrete. How? By replacing saturated air with fresh air. When fresh asphalt or concrete is laid, water molecules will accumulate in the air just above your new driveway as it’s drying. With zero wind these water molecules will continue to build up in the air, causing that air to become saturated and just like with high humidity, it will slow the drying process. A gentle breeze will cycle out this air, keeping it.

Hiring the Right Professionals

As you’ve probably gathered by now, when it comes to asphalt and concrete, time is of the essence. The longer it sits without being properly compacted, the more prone it is to structural problems. Problems such as a less stable foundation and costly repairs. Whenhiring a contractorfor your paving project, make sure to have a conversation with them about their equipment and timeline as well as the current weather conditions in your area. Sometimes all you may need is a Sealing of your existing pavement!